Acokanthera oblongifolia

Acokanthera oblongifolia
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Gentianales
Family:	Apocynaceae
Genus:	Acokanthera
Species:	A. oblongifolia
Binomial name
Acokanthera oblongifolia (Hochst.) Benth. & Hook.f. ex B.D.Jacks.
Synonyms[1]
Acokanthera oblongifolia (Hochst.) Codd Acokanthera spectabilis (Sond.) Hook.f. Carissa oblongifolia Hochst. Carissa spectabilis (Sond.) Pichon Jasminonerium oblongifolium (Hochst.) Kuntze Toxicophlaea spectabilis Sond.

Acokanthera oblongifolia grows as an evergreen shrub or small tree up to 6 metres (20 ft) tall. Its fragrant flowers feature a white tinged pink corolla. Berries are purple when ripe. Vernacular names for the plant include "dune poison bush" and "wintersweet". Habitats are dry forest and coastal thickets. A. oblongifolia is used in local medicinal treatments for snakebites, itches and internal worms. The plant has been used as arrow poison.^[2] A oblongifolia is native to Mozambique and South Africa and is also found in Honduras and cultivated in Pakistan.^[2][3]

References

1. "Acokanthera oblongifolia". The Plant List. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
2. Medicinal Plants. PROTA. 2008. pp. 29–30. ISBN 978-9-05782-204-9.
3. "Acokanthera oblongifolia". Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved 22 July 2013.